The Islamic Republic of Pakistan emerged as an independent state on the founding principle that Hindus and Muslims constitute “two distinct and antagonistic ways of life and therefore they cannot coexist in one nation.” For the first time in the history it was witnessed that a nation was carved out not because of it’s separate cultural identity but simply out of pure animosity for fellow brethren.
Before proceeding further it is important to draw a clear distinction between culture and religion. Although a religion may have some influence on the culture of the society as a whole but it can never disassociate an individual from the much broader way of life which defines culture. Indonesia is a great example of the above stated distinction. While harbouring the world’s greatest Muslim population, the country hasn’t let go of its culture and it’s deep rooted association with Hinduism. They have their largest national airline named as Garuda, the President’s grandson’s name is Srinarendra, they still celebrate the life of Lord Ram with plays and sketches and a lot more which doesn’t let them lose their ethos and culture for religion’s sake.
The State of Pakistan currently is in a serious identity crisis. The 1971 war was a serious blow to their beliefs which was a result of Bengali Muslims being discriminated despite their same religious identity and treatment as lesser human beings owing to their Bengali culture. The result was breaking apart of Pakistan into a new Bangladesh. The same destiny awaits for Balochistan in a few years to come.
In the era where information is free for all and more accessible than ever before, the present generation of Pakistan is disillusioned and has started questioning their very existence. The influx of Arabic culture and their urge to identify with Arabs and eventually considering Bengali Muslims inferior, led them to break apart from Bangladesh. It should be understood that Nation in it self is nothing but an idea, which is in the minds of the people first and later expressed into borders. Stronger the emotion behind that idea, stronger a nation becomes. Imagine what happens when that emotion of hate starts proving futile in holding a nation together.
Consider the dilemma of Pakistan if one day they wake up and find that they have perfectly fine relations with Indians and there is complete peace on both sides of the borders. Though hard to believe, considering if a situation like such ever arises, wouldn’t the people rise and start asking questions like, why are Muslims in India prospering and fairing even better than most Pakistanis? Why hasn’t India already broken up or if not, then why not in a constant chaos owing to a substantial Muslim population? If we share the same bloodline and heritage as Indians, why did we ever part into a separate state?
As ordinary as the above questions sound, in their own capacity they are sufficient enough to loosen the foundation of a soverign nation. It wouldn’t take time for an underfed nation identified with all the wrong reasons in the book throughout the world to organise a coup d’etat in Pakistan if such an ideology is let to sink into the consciousness of people there.
It is for this reason, the constant brewing of animosity, constant border tussle, unprecedented level of concern about human right violations of Kashmiris while maintaining complete silence on Uighur Muslims comes as a necessity for the Army driven state of Pakistan. It is not a new tactic, the communist regime of China in the past effectively used it in 1962 to divert the attention of the world and it’s own people from thousands who had died by the famines induced due to sudden change in the Communist Party policy of changing China to an industrial nation from an agricultural nation. The result was the 1962 Indo-China war.
But it is only a matter of time, when it comes to Pakistan, and no one knows it better than their army and it is for this reason they are leaving no stones unturned to keep that chaos brewing. The fear to lose monopoly of power that is enjoyed by the army is what keeps them at the edge of their seats. As I said, it is only a matter of time.
